Chest pain

[JasmineT]

Hi all, I am wondering if anyone may be able to advise.  I have been having chest pain, not sharp, more like pressure.  It is focused primarily off center to the right, near the top of the right breast.  Feels kind of like someone hit me I guess, an ache/pressure, not a sharp pain.  I am on week 13, just finished incivik last Friday.

The discomfort came off and on week 11 and then grew last week until by sunday, i was up all night in pain with kind of a sinking feeling mixed in.  Not good, as very worried.  Some of that could be interferon.  Could not work Monday.  I purposefully missed my monday morning dose of riba because I thought it was anemia related, needed relief and just could not take the pain anymore after so many days.  Had scheduled a Tuesday appt with the hematologist.  Missing one dose, the pain went back to tolerable by my Monday evening dose.

I went to the hematologist.  She said my hgb was 10.3 (prior week test) so would not treat for anemia, no reduction in Riba or adding procrit.  She suggested a cardiologist or the hospital.  She also said it could be a build up of toxins and my system was just not handling well.

Seems to me the hospital will say I am on serious drugs that make me sick and that is the problem.  Given the location of the pain, I am wondering if it's lung related, not heart.  Mostly I think it's Riba related.  If it gets intolerable again I suppose I will have to go to the ER or something.

Anyway, sorry for being so long winded but wondering if anyone else had similar pain and may know what the cause was?

[JasmineT]

Thank you all for responding with feedback.  I have missed too much work and when the pain became tolerable I focused on that.  Really should not have done that in retrospect.  That the pain has gotten better each day seems to point to possibly the interferon.  Tonight is shot night and I am dreading it.  If the pain increases after the shot I am going to the ER this time.  And if the now slight ache is not gone, will see the cardiologist on Monday or as soon as they will take me.  The stories of everyone here inspire me to push on but it is time to be careful with myself.  Thank you.

[ann61]

Interesting reading since I too am experiencing chest pain as well as annoying cough.  I'm in week 17 of treatment.  Done with incivek and in addition to riba and peg am taking neupogen (since 8/27) and procrit (since 10/24).  As of 11/14 my hgb is 6.9 and has continued to drop despite the procrit.  My riba dose has been reduced.  Doctor told me with such low hgb, heart issues including a heart attack, are a real threat.  

Since you were advised to consult with a cardiologist, I would do that asap just to be sure.  I would also take things easy and avoid physcial exertion as much as possible.

Good luck.

[hopeful53]

"CHEST PAIN"...

During my first round of tx in '09, early on  I developed chest  pain/ pressure/tightness, difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness and feeling faint.  Cardiologist who tested me and found my heart to be normal.  My symptoms were brought on by a swing to hyper-throidism  which is common when undergoing tx. Dosage of thyroid med was reduced.  The  hemolytic anemia caused severe shortness of breath.  Also anxiety and near panic.   My doseages were not reduced.  Spent most of my 65wks of soc with hgb in the 8's, no procrit.  

"correlation between asthma and anemia - (?)"

  I 've never been diagnosed with asthma, will learn more about "adult onset " type. Chronic allergies, drainage, slight cough, pressure and tightness in upper chest, ringing in ears continue almost 3 mos after stopping clinical trial.    When the doctors listen to my lungs, they don't seem to be concerned.   I'm perplexed!? Also, since taking procrit I've developed an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and edema.  But  I would do it all over again for the improvement in my quality of life, anything to help deal with the anemia

Praying for all you undergoing Triple therapy and trials...Know you're going through alot...Stay Strong!

[frijole]

jasmine
It does sound like anemia and don't dismiss a hgb read of 10.3.  My first round I talked the hemotologist into procrit when mine got to 10.6 or so.  I am really sorry these doctors seem to have to wait until the hgb gets down to the 9s.  The correlation between asthma and the anemia is interesting too and I would think you need to get that checked out.

I agree that you should go ahead and see a cardiologist.  However, I cannot imagine having to do a cardiolight (nuclear) stress test on tx!  

frijole

[uncledudeness]

yahtzee......they switched me from advair to symbacort last month and it seems to be working better. so i take from your post that you stopped the advair? i would run that by your doctor. you might also consider a rescue inhaler like albuterol....i can't live without it now. prior to tx, i used it a couple times a week, now it's a couple times a day....it helps


good luck....it'll be over before you know it....44/48 weeks for me....boy am i gonna miss being on treatment..............bwahahahahaha.....NOT

[JasmineT]

Thank you for taking the time to help.

Screaming48 (great name for tx) and curious lady, expect you are right.  More time off from work and more docs :(. Just do it. ;)

Willbb, I have all those symptoms except the last 4, the blood work shows it's not bad enough to address though

Uncledudeness, yes, I have adult onset asthma.  I have not had to take advair since I started tx.  The pharmacist said some of the meds in both incivek and riba, were also in advair so expect that is why.  I did stop incivek this weekend but the pain had started before.  Still interesting thought.

[uncledudeness]

I too have some chest pain, or tightness, but it's more bronchial related. i have asthma and the treatment has made it much worse. for me, it's like 'swimmers lung', where it feel like someone is stepping on my chest. it's difficult to breathe at times and i use my inhaler. i have a lot of mucus build up in my sinus and bronchial tube. do you have any history of asthma or allergies?

[willbb]

I would never advise someone who is experiencing chest pain  not  be checked out by a doctor,however chest pain is a fairly common symptom of "hemolytic anemia " caused by the early destruction of red blood cells  brought on by Ribavirin.
Again..chest pain should always be checked,however hopfully it calms you somewhat knowing it is very common with tx.

Good luck..
Will


Hemolytic Anemia Overview
What is hemolytic anemia?
A person with hemolytic anemia has a lower than normal number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and have a life span of 120 days, before they are destroyed by the body. In someone with hemolytic anemia, the red blood cells are destroyed too quickly. When this happens, the bone marrow becomes unable to produce enough red blood cells to keep up with the loss. Hemolytic anemia may be inherited, or caused by autoimmune disease, drugs, toxins, or infections.

What are the symptoms of hemolytic anemia?
Early symptoms of hemolytic anemia may include anorexia, weakness, fatigue, pale skin, headaches, dizziness, and faintness upon standing. Symptoms of worsening hemolytic anemia may include chest pain, difficulty breathing with exertion, fainting, palpitations, jaundice, and brown urine.

[curiouslady1]

BTW people are concerned about the heart when treating.  I am on a trial and they give me an EKG every two weeks to a month.  Like Nike says, just do it.  If it's nothing, breathe a sigh of relief.  Women's symptoms of heart problems are very different than men's.  

[curiouslady1]

You need to do what the hematologist told you to do and stop trying to be your own doctor.  Get thee to the heart doc ASAP to rule out heart problems.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.

[screaming48]

I would go to the er. Women are always the ones who wont go in for stuff like that. Go to the ER and be safe...anne and yes I have had some pains as well as my hgb is 8.3 mine was indigestion